Bush Recreation Area
Campground · Pennsylvania · 43 bookable sites ·
Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers
Loyalhanna Lake (Recreation Reservoir) · Open Access
- 43
- Bookable sites
- 22 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 15
- People per site
- 2
- Accessible sites
- 945 ft
- Elevation
Overview
The Bush Recreation Area is located next to the scenic Loyalhanna Lake. This location provides picturesque views of the lake as well as opportunities for bird watching, boating, fishing, hunting and paddle sports.Recreation
The Bush Recreation Area offers boating with unlimited horse power. Visitors to the area can kayak or canoe the lake as well, and take advantage of kayak rentals located in the Bush Recreation Area.The Loyalhanna Lake offers great fishing opportunities, with multiple bass tournaments each year. This lake also has some of the best channel catfishing in Pennsylvania, with multiple fish stockings each year. If you like fishing from shore there are plenty of opportunities to fish both moving and still waters.
Those that like to go bike riding can find the West Penn Trail located at our sister project just 10 minutes away.
Facilities
This campground has a variety of sites available from full RV hookup to primitive tent camp sites. Picnic tables and campfire grill rings are equipped at every campsite.Patrons at the campground will have access to flushing toilets, drinking water, showers and a dump station.
Natural Features
The campground is located in a beautiful valley overlooking Loyalhanna Lake. Among terrain characterized by its diversity, visitors will discover rolling foothills of the Laurel Highlands, from which the headwaters of the Loyalhanna Creek flow.Nearby Attractions
The West Penn Trail offers excellent hiking and biking opportunities within a short 10 minute drive. Additionally the site of Loyalhanna dam provides interpretive displays of the dam as well as a great scenic view.The facts
- 43 bookable sites
- 45 sites in total, including non-bookable
- 2 accessible sites
- Vehicles up to 22 ft
- Up to 15 people per site
- Loops: BUSH RECREATION AREA, Loop 1
Site types
- 16 RV Electric
- 15 Standard Nonelectric
- 11 Tent Only Nonelectric
- 2 Management
- 1 Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
Amenities
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: sewer hookups.
45 campsites at Bush Recreation Area
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 11:00 AM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Water | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiski Nonprofit Group Campground | BUSH RECREATION AREA | Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | 15 | |
| 001 | Loop 1 | Management | Back In | — | Lakefront | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 002 | Loop 1 | Management | Back In | — | Lakefront | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 003 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | Lakefront | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 004 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | Lakefront | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 005 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | Lakefront | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 006 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 007 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 008 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 009 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 010 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 011 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 012 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 013 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 014 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 015 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 016 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 017 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 018 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 019 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 020 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 021 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Back In | — | — | 22 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 022 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Back In | — | — | 22 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 023 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Back In | — | — | 22 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 024 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | — | — | — | 6 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 025 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 026 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 027 | Loop 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 028 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Pull Through | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 029 | Loop 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 030 | Loop 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 031 | Loop 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 032 | Loop 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 033 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 034 | Loop 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 035 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 036 | Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 037 | Loop 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 038 | Loop 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 039 | Loop 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 040 | Loop 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 041 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Pull Through | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 042 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Pull Through | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 043 | Loop 1 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Pull Through | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
| 044 | Loop 1 | Rv Electric | Pull Through | — | — | — | 6 | 🐾 |
Getting there
From Pittsburgh, take I-376 E (12.1 miles) keep left and continue onto US-22 E. Make a left at PA-981 N located in New Alexandria, PA near the Sheets gas station. Make a left onto Bush Road, passing Mannitto Golf Course, make another left into the Bush Recreation Area.
200 Boat Dock Road
New Alexandria PA, 15670
40.43829, -79.43646 · 40°26'17.8"N 79°26'11.3"W
Typical weather
Typically 83°F in Jul, down to 37°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 37 | 40 | 49 | 62 | 72 | 80 | 83 | 82 | 76 | 64 | 52 | 41 |
| Low °F | 19 | 20 | 27 | 36 | 46 | 55 | 59 | 58 | 51 | 40 | 30 | 24 |
| Precip in | 3.1 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 3.6 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 1.6 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Bush Recreation Area
- Can you reserve a site at Bush Recreation Area?
- Yes, Bush Recreation Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Bush Recreation Area have?
- 45 sites in total, of which 43 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Bush Recreation Area?
- 22 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Bush Recreation Area?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Bush Recreation Area.
- Does Bush Recreation Area have hookups?
- Electric, Water.
- Are campfires allowed at Bush Recreation Area?
- Campfires are allowed at Bush Recreation Area. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Camping near Bush Recreation Area
- Loyalhanna Lake Pavilions 1.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Conemaugh Lake Pavilions 4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Hancock Bend Boat Launch and Recreation Area 19 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Crooked Creek Lake Pavilions 19.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Crooked Creek Lake 19.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Damsite and Spillway Recreation Area 19.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Outflow Camping 43.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Youghiogheny Recreation Area 44.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh 29.5 mi · Facility
- Johnstown Flood National Memorial Visitor Center 35.5 mi · Facility
- Flight 93 Visitor Center 38.4 mi · Visitor Center
- Fort Necessity/National Road Interpretive and Education Center 43.8 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone 724-639-9013
- Email Ryan.D.Smith@usace.army.mil
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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